Estudio comparativo de las curvas de crecimiento NCHS/OMS: Evaluación del estado nutricional e implicancias en un centro de salud familiar

Abstract

Chile changed from the CDC/NCHS to the new WHO standards in 2007 to evaluate growth in children less than 5 years of age. Our proposal was to determine the impact of this change on nutritional indicators. We studied 982 children aged less than 5 years in a public family health center in Chillan Viejo. Length/height-for-age, weight-for-length/height, and weight-for-age indicators were compared for both growth curves with the WHO Anthro program. Results showed significant differences in means for all anthropometric indicators (p<0.0001), increased proportion of undernourished, overweight, and obese children, as well as a significant decrease of those with normal nutritional status. Consultation hours increased 27.7 % and 41.1% for nutritionists and doctors, respectively. We concluded that the WHO standard represents more adequately optimum child growth, increases the proportion of children with nutritional excess and deficit leading to enhanced nutritional attention by health professionals.